The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-14
INDIANA'S ANNIVERSARY.

CeIs bratiOn at the Reform School In
Honor of the states Birthday.
The seventy-first anniversary of the ad-
mission of Indiana into the Union was
celebrated at the Reform School for Boys
Saturday evening. The school being a
State institution, the management think
1T is appropriate that the day should be
Observed every year, and have concluded
to do so in the future. The State was adj
mitted or the 18th day of December, 1916,
and last year the celebration was on that
day. The boys marched to the chapel and
opened the exercises with patriotic song.
All the best patriotic songs were sung
with spirit
The first address was by the Superin-
fendent, Pref. T. J. Charlton, who sketched
the history of the region now embraced in
the present territory of the State up to
1S16. This led him to speak of the differ
cut Indian tribes that dwelt in the limits
Of this State, their habits and the Indian
battles, closing with Tippecanoe. He tn en-
spoke OF the early French explorations
and settlements, the struggle with the
great powers of Europe for the possession
of the vast Western territory, the expe6i-
ton OF General George Rogers Clark, which
resulted in the capture of Vincennes, aud
then Of the organization of Indiana Terri
tory, and the character of the people
who first settled in the borders Of
the present State. As Prof. Charlton
1s thoroughly posted in United States
history, and conseQ uently il. familiar with
the early history OF the West, and for years
has taught and drilled the boys in it once
q week, his address was intensely inter.
esting, lnterspersed, as it was, with ques-
tions TO the boys, which were promptly
answered.
The next address wss by Judge Lewis
Jordan on the history of the State from
1916 TO the commencement of the civil
war. He spoke of the character of the
early settlers, the laws they enacted to
punish crime and protect the Sabbath; the
early interest taken in schools, and the re-
Igious tendencies OF the early settlers
which resulted in the building of houses
Of worship in every neighborhood. The
Judge for years has been collecting Incl.
dents of the early history of the Safe, and
his address showed him to be very familiar
with its general history.
Mr.. Grant Cox next made a short ad-
dress and told several anecdotes of early
times, which greatly amused the BOYS.
Chaplain Blake was the last speaker, and
he commenced with the history of the war.
The Chaplain was at his best, aud if this
was a report OF q political meeting the word
speHbOund would be used to describe the
effect his speech had on the boys. AS
Chaplain Blake is well posted on the ma
terial resources OF the State he grouped
these together in q mastery manner and
made the boys feel that they were living
In the most highly famed State in the
Union. He closed with strong appeal to
the boys to become worthy and good citi-
zen Of our glorious State.
The exercises lasted three hours, but the
Interest was undated until the close. Is
1t not strange that q greater effort Is not
made to teach the children OF Indiana her
history, for there is much in it to deeply
interest the boys. In this respect the BOYS
at the Reform School are more highly
favored than all the other boys in the
State.